AirDrop for Macs

Need to send a file to another teacher but don't want to take up your limited email space? Try using AirDrop. To access AirDrop, open your Finder window and click the AirDrop tab.  Then click and drag the desired file(s) or folder(s) to the user's icon. Remember, the larger the file(s), the longer the download process.  All computers will need to be on the same wireless network and within 30 feet of each other.

Why I Choose Pages

You're going to write a blog post about Pages? It's just a word processor, right? How boring!

Not so! Pages is one of my most frequently used computer applications. It's more than just word processing... it's beautifully-designed reports, newsletters, résumés, cards, posters, and more. It's easy-to-use graphic design and publishing capability.

Pages is, "...simple to use, easy to learn and has sharing features that should finally put an end to [your] complaints about friends who are unable to open the documents [you] send them... [Apple] has rethought its approach to the most boring of computer applications — the word processor — with some impressive results. It particularly shines in three areas: appearance, compatibility and sharing." (Shear)

Some features that make Pages my word processing software of choice are:

• The Pages template chooser offers great designs that are easy to tailor to your own tastes and needs.
• Menus and options are visual and easy to access using the formatting window (formerly the inspector).

Pages has, "...a contextual panel that slides out from the right. Editing text? Out pops the buttons for bold, font size and justification. Inserting a table? The panel switches to let you modify the rows and columns. Add a picture and you automatically get options for borders and shadows." (Shear)

• Multimedia is readily available, tied to iPhoto and iTunes.
• Automatic centering guidelines make arranging the components of projects easy.
• Sharing and exporting options allow sharing of documents in various file formats so that you can share projects with people who use other word processing programs.
• iCloud sharing options make your files easily accessible on various computer operating systems as well as iOS devices.

"The new version of Pages introduces an all-new sharing option, powered by the company’s iCloud service, that works remarkably well. Type in a person’s email address, click send, and that person receives a link to your document. When the link is clicked, the document opens in a web browser that looks like a fully functioning Pages application.... The recipient doesn’t have to have Pages installed or have an iCloud account. It even makes Mac-PC sharing easy. The new version runs just fine in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome or Safari on a Windows PC." (Shear)

In case the templates and tools that come with Pages aren't enough, there are many online tools and apps available to enhance Pages even more:

• The Toolbox for Pages app is available in the Mac App Store and the iOS App Store for free. Toolbox provides extra templates and graphics, some paid and some free, for creating even more Pages projects.
• Templates Box for Pages is also available on the Mac App Store. It is a bit pricey, but also provides new templates for use in Pages, including Calendar templates.
• There are a limited amount of free template downloads available from StockLayouts as well as paid membership options. I have found these a little more difficult to use, but it's still nice to have some freebees available.
• iWork Community is an online community built for sharing free templates created by Mac users who love Pages.
• And for those of you who can't live without them, here is the link to a template for Avery Labels with Address Book Merge!

For those of you who are less familiar with how to use Pages, following are several resources for learning more about the application:

• Apple.com - Pages
• Mac Apps Support - Pages
• Pages '09 Tutorial on the CSD Ed Tech Prolearning website, for those who haven't upgraded yet

Not only is Pages great for all the teacher projects you need to complete, it is also great for student projects. Check out these great examples:

• Posters 

• Brochures

• Reading Responses, Notes, Storyboards

• Reports

• Newsletters

• Memory Books

Pages isn't so boring after all, is it? There are many amazing things you can do in Pages, from word processing, to project creation. If you haven't ever given it a try, maybe it's time you do!

Citations:
Shear, Michael D.. "Apple’s Pages, Going the Distance With Word." The New York Times 27 Nov. 2013, U.S. ed., sec. State of the Art: 1-2. Web.

iPhoto Slideshows

We are getting closer and closer to the end of the school year -- a time for field days, awards assemblies, year books, and, of course, the end of year slideshow! My favorite tool for creating a quick and easy slideshow is iPhoto. I like it because it does most of the work for me. We all know how hectic the end of the year gets, so anything that is time-saving is very helpful.

So, how do you get started with your iPhoto slideshow? First, gather all the photos you want to have in your slideshow. This is the hardest part, especially if you are trying to gather photos from other people. ;) Add all of the photos you want in your slideshow to iPhoto by simply clicking and dragging them onto the iPhoto icon on your dock. Save time by selecting all of the photos and dragging them to the iPhoto icon all at once. iPhoto will open and take a few moments to load all the photos you just added. They will then show up in iPhoto as your last import.

Next you will need to select all of the photos you just imported. (The shortcut for selecting all is Command A.) iPhoto will highlight these photos in yellow.

With the photos selected, click on the + sign at the bottom of your screen and select Album, then New Album. Type the name you want to give the album, and type the return key.

The photos you have gathered for your slideshow are now stored as a group in iPhoto, making them easy to access later using the navigation on the left side bar. If you have other photos, either already in iPhoto or anywhere on your computer, that you want to add to your slideshow, simply click and drag them onto the name of your new album.

Now that all of your photos are gathered and in one place, it's time to make your slideshow! Go to your album by clicking on its name in the left side bar. Once again, select all of the photos in your album (Command A). When they are all yellow again, click on the plus sign at the bottom of your screen, and this time select Slideshow, then New Slideshow.

iPhoto will automatically create a new slideshow project for you in your left side bar. You will notice that all of the photos are shown across the top of your show. You can click and drag these photos to rearrange their order if you want to.

Using the tool bar across the bottom of your screen, you can instantly play your slideshow! As you watch, if you decide there are things you would like to change about the show, simply move your mouse and a tool bar will show up. Click on the settings icon, and you have access to all kinds of music, style, transition, and caption options.

Your slideshow is all set and ready to play. If you want to keep the slideshow to play later, you can click the Export button and send your show to your iTunes library where you can enjoy it again and again!

Things I Have Learned this Year from Colleagues

I have learned a lot from my fabulous colleagues this year.  Here are some of the best pointers I've learned.

1. The accessibility features on a mac are very handy for zooming in and out during presentations.
To do this, make sure to have accessibility enabled and then you can zoom in with using the ctrl+track/mouse and presto! You're there. It is particularly helpful when you are trying to show a URL.

2. Not all headphones are alike. A good rule of thumb is that if they are cheap, they are cheap.

3. Chromebooks are actually a great alternative for college students and anyone wanting to collaborate.

4. iPhones are great tools for use in the classroom. Use them as clickers. Use them as cameras. Use them to record students reading to each other.

5. Sock Puppets app is great for DLI.  Have the students role play in the Dual Immersion language.

6. Use the clock app on the iPad and display using the Apple TV as a timer and also for stop watch.

7. When having students use the camera app on iPads, have them play for at least 30 minutes before you want something serious.

8. Relax and learn from your students. They can really teach you a lot.

9. If you can't figure something out, ask a fifth grader.

10. If the fifth grader doesn't know, ask a teenager. They DEFINITELY know.

Stopping Your Computer Going to Sleep has Never Been Easier: Caffeine Anyone?

Every teacher has experienced their computer going to sleep or screen saver in the middle of a presentation.  While there are ways to change your settings to a longer idle time before your computer goes to sleep, there is a much easier way.

With a creatively punned name, Caffeine, a free app (software) for your Mac computer, allows you to decide when you want your computer to stay awake.  Once installed, Caffeine will be installed in the menu bar (Image below).  To download, go to the App Store icon and search for “Caffeine" (Image right).

Like a cup of coffee, when Caffeine is activated by clicking on the “cup,” your computer will stay awake.  By clicking on the “cup” it will fill with coffee and when you click the icon again the coffee will be gone.

Caffeine as a great productivity tool for any teacher who presents to their students.  Don’t forget to empty the cup…